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Catching Up With Kianna and Sydney
4/17/2020 1:24:00 PM | Softball
Gopher Softball is excited to bring newsletter right to your at-home office. Our hope is that you can learn more about the special people who make up Gopher Softball as we all navigate this time of change. Take a look at the player section for our upcoming second issue below.
The Gophers counted on a pair of freshmen in Kianna Jones and Sydney Strelow in the starting lineup this season. Jones appeared in 19 games with 16 starts while Strelow found a home behind the plate with 24 appearances and 23 starts in the Gophers 25 games of action this season.
Gopher Sports: Even though it was cut short, what was the 2020 freshman season like for you?
Kianna Jones: The 2020 season was an amazing experience! I loved competing at the highest level with the people who pushed me to be great. It was amazing to not only represent an academic institution but to represent a state that is so supportive of student-athletes. I loved having the ability to play with Minnesota across my chest.
Sydney Strelow: Freshman year was a huge learning experience for me and I think it challenged me a little more than I expected. (Late fall) I started practicing at the catching position which isn't foreign to me because I caught a lot in my career before my freshman year of high school, but it was still a huge jump for me physically and mentally. I needed to think a lot more about the situations of the game and tear that rust off. I think right at the point of the season cancellation I was getting into the groove of actually being a catcher and not just someone who can catch. I remember the second to last game we played against UCLA I was feeling more comfortable behind the plate and found different things coming easier.
GS: What was it like to crack the starting lineup?
KJ: It was so exciting to have the opportunity to play in the outfield this past season. I am so grateful for every opportunity that I had to compete on the field with eight other people who wanted our team to succeed just as much as I did. I know that every chance I have to step on the field is a chance for me to grow and learn so to be surrounded by such amazing players to look up to was also to my advantage.
SS: As a player, being a part of something so much bigger than yourself, you always have pride in representing Minnesota Softball whether that is on the field, in practice or in the classroom. I think that being given those opportunities to be on the field in big moments and finding little success with those chances is what competing is all about. I tried to have a mindset to compete with myself and do better than I did the day before, better than the rep before, better than the swing before and I think that mindset helped me contribute to the short season that we had. Stepping out onto a field with so many great players was so humbling to me. Just to be put on the same lineup card as these girls on this team is very special and rewarding to me.
GS: Both had big moments down in Clearwater. Syd, a walk-off against the No. 5 team in the country and KJ, first career home run? What were those moments like?
KJ: Hitting my first career homerun was super exciting. Growing up my dad always told me to hit for doubles, which is something that coach Katie (Rietkovich) also talks about. I was just trying to get some solid contact and stay smooth through my swing. Turns out Katie and my dad were right! I was so excited after I found out it went over that I tried my very best to act cool like I'd done it before, but as soon as I made it to home plate and had an awkward hug with Brooke (Vander Heide) I'm sure most people knew that was my first collegiate homerun. One of the tournament workers came to give me my homerun ball which I planned on giving my dad after the game, but turns out it was a random ball. My dad ran into the bushes to fish it out before the women working the tournament could get there in time, and showed me after the game with the biggest smile in his face. It was an awesome moment.
SS: Being in that moment was probably one of the most important moments of my freshman season just because it was a chance to prove myself. It was still early on in the year, but I had had moments in previous games where I just did not come through for the team the way I wanted. To build confidence in myself and do something to change the game at that moment was a huge reflection for me that this is the same game I've been playing since I was six.
GS: KJ, how did competing with Team Canada prepare you for collegiate softball?
KJ: Competing with Team Canada was something that I dreamed of doing since I was a child. It prepared me by showing me what it's like to compete for something bigger than myself. I wasn't just another player, I became someone that younger children looked up to, and it was very important for me to be a leader and a great role model. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to play for my country on the biggest stage, which has helped me gain a lot of perspective in my collegiate career so far.
GS: Syd, we have to ask. What's it like catching Amber at 70 miles per hour?
SS: Ya know, it is a lot trickier than it seems especially when she starts putting different spins on the ball. Even just her fastball bites down and can be hard to grab. I had never caught so much velocity combined with movement before so I'd say that it definitely takes a few bullpens and a focused eye to catch her ball. Don't even get me started on how hard it is to hit Amber's 70 mph. That's a different story that I am still figuring out with each at-bat that I get against her in practice.
GS: How are you both staying busy these days?
KJ: Through this time I have been keeping very busy with school, workouts, working and spending time with my family. I have also had the chance to play online card games with some of my friends from home, which is a lot of fun, and keeps me competitive. As for family time our Nintendo Wii will be seeing some activity as we have just found Wii Sports Resort which is an elite sporting event in the Jones household!
SS: I've been stuck in quarantine at home in Wisconsin. I do a lot of different activities actually and I've been pretty good at keeping myself busy. Of course, keeping up with school and improving my game is at the top of my to-do list. I try to workout 1-2 times a day (I'm working for my six-pack) and I play catch with my sisters a few times a week. The team also has weekly meetings and we stay in contact throughout the week with each other. I have a lot of extra time to hang out with my family, which is something I do not normally get to do for this long of a period of time and I have rediscovered my love of art and crafts. I have been doing a lot of do-it-yourself activities and painting on canvas lately which eats up a lot of time. I'm a pretty social person, very extroverted, so being cooped up all day with no interaction except for the same five people every day is a little different for me. I cannot wait to be back in Minneapolis to train and spend all day, every day with my best friends.
The Gophers counted on a pair of freshmen in Kianna Jones and Sydney Strelow in the starting lineup this season. Jones appeared in 19 games with 16 starts while Strelow found a home behind the plate with 24 appearances and 23 starts in the Gophers 25 games of action this season.
Gopher Sports: Even though it was cut short, what was the 2020 freshman season like for you?
Kianna Jones: The 2020 season was an amazing experience! I loved competing at the highest level with the people who pushed me to be great. It was amazing to not only represent an academic institution but to represent a state that is so supportive of student-athletes. I loved having the ability to play with Minnesota across my chest.
Sydney Strelow: Freshman year was a huge learning experience for me and I think it challenged me a little more than I expected. (Late fall) I started practicing at the catching position which isn't foreign to me because I caught a lot in my career before my freshman year of high school, but it was still a huge jump for me physically and mentally. I needed to think a lot more about the situations of the game and tear that rust off. I think right at the point of the season cancellation I was getting into the groove of actually being a catcher and not just someone who can catch. I remember the second to last game we played against UCLA I was feeling more comfortable behind the plate and found different things coming easier.
GS: What was it like to crack the starting lineup?
KJ: It was so exciting to have the opportunity to play in the outfield this past season. I am so grateful for every opportunity that I had to compete on the field with eight other people who wanted our team to succeed just as much as I did. I know that every chance I have to step on the field is a chance for me to grow and learn so to be surrounded by such amazing players to look up to was also to my advantage.
SS: As a player, being a part of something so much bigger than yourself, you always have pride in representing Minnesota Softball whether that is on the field, in practice or in the classroom. I think that being given those opportunities to be on the field in big moments and finding little success with those chances is what competing is all about. I tried to have a mindset to compete with myself and do better than I did the day before, better than the rep before, better than the swing before and I think that mindset helped me contribute to the short season that we had. Stepping out onto a field with so many great players was so humbling to me. Just to be put on the same lineup card as these girls on this team is very special and rewarding to me.
GS: Both had big moments down in Clearwater. Syd, a walk-off against the No. 5 team in the country and KJ, first career home run? What were those moments like?
KJ: Hitting my first career homerun was super exciting. Growing up my dad always told me to hit for doubles, which is something that coach Katie (Rietkovich) also talks about. I was just trying to get some solid contact and stay smooth through my swing. Turns out Katie and my dad were right! I was so excited after I found out it went over that I tried my very best to act cool like I'd done it before, but as soon as I made it to home plate and had an awkward hug with Brooke (Vander Heide) I'm sure most people knew that was my first collegiate homerun. One of the tournament workers came to give me my homerun ball which I planned on giving my dad after the game, but turns out it was a random ball. My dad ran into the bushes to fish it out before the women working the tournament could get there in time, and showed me after the game with the biggest smile in his face. It was an awesome moment.
SS: Being in that moment was probably one of the most important moments of my freshman season just because it was a chance to prove myself. It was still early on in the year, but I had had moments in previous games where I just did not come through for the team the way I wanted. To build confidence in myself and do something to change the game at that moment was a huge reflection for me that this is the same game I've been playing since I was six.
GS: KJ, how did competing with Team Canada prepare you for collegiate softball?
KJ: Competing with Team Canada was something that I dreamed of doing since I was a child. It prepared me by showing me what it's like to compete for something bigger than myself. I wasn't just another player, I became someone that younger children looked up to, and it was very important for me to be a leader and a great role model. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to play for my country on the biggest stage, which has helped me gain a lot of perspective in my collegiate career so far.
GS: Syd, we have to ask. What's it like catching Amber at 70 miles per hour?
SS: Ya know, it is a lot trickier than it seems especially when she starts putting different spins on the ball. Even just her fastball bites down and can be hard to grab. I had never caught so much velocity combined with movement before so I'd say that it definitely takes a few bullpens and a focused eye to catch her ball. Don't even get me started on how hard it is to hit Amber's 70 mph. That's a different story that I am still figuring out with each at-bat that I get against her in practice.
GS: How are you both staying busy these days?
KJ: Through this time I have been keeping very busy with school, workouts, working and spending time with my family. I have also had the chance to play online card games with some of my friends from home, which is a lot of fun, and keeps me competitive. As for family time our Nintendo Wii will be seeing some activity as we have just found Wii Sports Resort which is an elite sporting event in the Jones household!
SS: I've been stuck in quarantine at home in Wisconsin. I do a lot of different activities actually and I've been pretty good at keeping myself busy. Of course, keeping up with school and improving my game is at the top of my to-do list. I try to workout 1-2 times a day (I'm working for my six-pack) and I play catch with my sisters a few times a week. The team also has weekly meetings and we stay in contact throughout the week with each other. I have a lot of extra time to hang out with my family, which is something I do not normally get to do for this long of a period of time and I have rediscovered my love of art and crafts. I have been doing a lot of do-it-yourself activities and painting on canvas lately which eats up a lot of time. I'm a pretty social person, very extroverted, so being cooped up all day with no interaction except for the same five people every day is a little different for me. I cannot wait to be back in Minneapolis to train and spend all day, every day with my best friends.
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